Art Deco Archives | ek magazine | Architectural Publications

Barous Bar-restaurant

Konstantinos — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 05:31:08 +0000

This article by Konstantinos was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

Alternating surfaces

The project is an all-day bar-restaurant located on Evia’s Lake, in Greece. Its interior design combines classic and contemporary elements praising the building ’s neoclassical character.

Functional Layout

The interior space has a central arrangement with the bar at the back, and large openings on the façade, maximizing the view towards the lake. The building ’s original form guided the distribution of table seats. Various seating types occurred, from linear banquettes and booths to a central sofa element and free-standing chairs accompanied by custom made marble top tables with wooden frames. The exterior seating arrangement combines fer forgé chairs, striped patterned sofa cushions and wooden tables.

Design Philosophy

The goal from the beginning was to create a welcoming and atmospheric space recalling moments from the past. The concept draws inspiration from the Art Deco era, which is attributed through an abstract and modern approach. A significant design aspect that brings us back to the ‘20s in popular European capitals, is the black and white marble mosaic flooring with the marble skirting. The well-known pattern merged with the brightness of white marble pieces reminds us of traditional Parisian bistros.

Materials & Furniture

Marble is also carefully placed on the floor of the bar area, creating an elegant separation between bar and dining hall. The elements made of wood, the bright hues of the walls and flooring along with the dark green touches of the sofa and ceiling, the brass details of the lighting fixtures and the colorful vitraux, form a fresh palette of contrasts. The space is characterized by continuous alterations between smooth and embossed surfaces, sharp and curved forms, solid and transparent elements. Natural plants are integrated in the central sofa volume to add an overall summer feeling to the interior.

The post Barous Bar-restaurant was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Nox Music Stage in Athens

Konstantinos — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 05:31:01 +0000

This article by Konstantinos was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

Spatial narratives

The 1,500m² music venue in the heart of Athens was crafted to herald a new era in entertainment.

Design Aesthetic

Bright scenes of New York during the Art Deco era, the atmospheric charm of interwar Paris, the allure of the Moulin Rouge, and the mystique of the speakeasy era blend seamlessly with the vibrant rhythm of an Athenian night. Together, they shape a space designed to pause time, even if just for a moment. Fluid curves, a central design element, amplify the sense of movement and flow throughout the venue.

Spatial Layout

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a reception area reminiscent of a vintage hotel lobby. Moving further, a short ascent reveals the stage and the first tier of seating. A grand central staircase leads to the second level, where additional rows of seats are arranged. The design unfolds as a multisensory narrative, engaging visitors at every step.

Material Palette & Furniture

The corridors are subtly underlit, while dark tones of black dominate the marble floors and wood paneling. Rich red and deep green velvet adorn the furnishings and towering theatrical curtains, complemented by metallic accents in aged bronze and scattered exotic plants. The décor blends vintage objects with contemporary art, including works by Mr. Brainwash, sculptures by Richard Orlinski, and digital elements, creating striking contrasts. This timeless fusion of eras and aesthetics results in a space that radiates mystery and intense sensuality.

The post Nox Music Stage in Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Samba Coffee Roasters Crossroads in Athens

Konstantinos — Tue, 14 May 2024 05:31:06 +0000

This article by Konstantinos was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

Composing contrasts

The new coffee shop, situated in a central area of Athens, is characterized by a harmonious synthesis of strong contrasts: geometric shapes, materials, textures, and colors. The design aim is to cultivate an elegant yet avant-garde atmosphere.

Design Philosophy

The store consists of a ground floor indoor and outdoor seating area. The first floor houses a hybrid seating and seminar area, centred around the theme of coffee. At the heart of the composition are two monolithic counters crafted from handmade coloured mosaic and positioned centrally within the shop to oversee the process of production and supply of products. The coffee station and open kitchen harmoniously coexist in the space. Organized around them are the staff and customer circulation areas. The horizontal flow of the composition is disrupted by a void at the centre of the space and a metal circular staircase ascending to the floor above. These elements are accentuated in colour, splitting the space in two segments.

Morphological elements

The central aperture fosters a visual link between the levels, offering an element of surprise through hanging fixtures and vertical plants. The façade is made of metallic black frames, a sunshade cloth, and vibrant plants that attract passing pedestrians, immersing them in a diverse experience.

Natural Materials

Incorporating Art Deco elements and materials reminiscent of an Athens’s “other era”, the space exudes a welcoming ambiance. Polished dark green floor tiles serve a dual purpose by unifying the various functions of the space while also infusing a playful dynamic with their reflective properties, which vary depending on the viewing angle. The walls feature either lime paint or ceramic cladding adorned with geometric patterns and designs, providing an ideal backdrop for artwork, wall light fixtures, and indoor planting. Brass paired with glass, mosaic, and ceramics with unique geometry and texture, along with wood combined with Venetian wicker, collectively imbue the entire composition with a rich materiality.

The post Samba Coffee Roasters Crossroads in Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

House renovation in Koukaki

Giannis — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:46:53 +0000

This article by Giannis was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

Built in the early 1930’s, the building is a typical example of Athenian Art Deco. The symmetrical windows that emphasize the vertical axis, combined with the richly ornamented doors and iron railings, add up to a certain monumentality. In addition, the corner balcony uniting the two protrusions of the home’s exterior wall, otherwise known as erkern, along with the rooftop pergola, are quite popular architectural features during the Art Deco era in Greece.

The architectural studio was tasked with renovating the building and developing the interiors with a contemporary feel, while preserving its historic character. Keen to retain the building’s original features, the exterior was refreshed and painted in different shades of almond green, which were intentionally contrasted with the dark red exterior doors and the grey framed windows. Old wooden windows were updated with identical steel ones, while the exterior doors were replicated and repositioned in place.

The building hosts two residences. On the elevated ground floor, there is a two-bedroom apartment featuring a small courtyard in the back. The building’s first and second floor houses a two-level apartment starring a spacious terrace with an oak pergola and views across the city center’s rooftops. The interior design proposal focused primarily on the split-level apartment which was intended for a couple and their two children. The building’s Art Deco heritage, along with the neighborhood’ s vibrant and creative atmosphere, provided rich inspiration for our design.

In harmony with the owner’s wishes, we attempted to balance elegance with functionality, ensuring that all spaces were used effectively. The layout of successive rooms was maintained, and the only intervention carried out was the removal of a dividing wall between the kitchen and the dining room in order to create a large, comfortable, bright space with an open, welcoming feel and functionality. The green sage cabinets and white marble countertops are in dialogue with the surrounding floral patterned floor tiles, while wood prevails in the dining area, decorated with vital indoor plants.

Prior to its renovation, the building was found in a good but time-worn condition, so many of its original features had to be restored or replaced. Existing oak flooring was cleaned, polished and varnished, while plaster details with elegant neoclassical motifs on all the ceilings were preserved.

Particular significance was given to interior design, which echoes the Art Deco style in shades of greens and blues, combined with wooden and metal details. Patterned tiles, terrazzo, marble, geometric shapes and brass details have been used as a modern interpretation of the ones that would have appeared in the original building over ninety years ago.

The residence has been transformed into a welcoming space for family and friends, and therefore all materials and furniture were chosen to create a warm and cozy ambiance for everyday family moments. Ultimately, the flexibility of the adapted new style and its ability to offer a comfortable and intimate atmosphere, respectfully redefine modern Athenian eclecticism.

Theta Tris architecture

George Sfakianakis

The post House renovation in Koukaki was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.